In a move that shows just how competitive the television industry has become, NBC plans to extend its half-hour hit comedy "Friends" by 10 minutes next month so the network can better compete against the second season of CBS's smash-hit reality program "Survivor."

NBC's decision is both ingenious in trying to hurt CBS and somewhat telling about its own fears. By extending "Friends" by 10 minutes, so it runs from 8 p.m. to 8:40 p.m., NBC hopes to keep viewers from tuning in to the second half...